On Nov 9, 7:31*am, "Lee Michaels" leemichaels*nadaspam* at comcast
dot net wrote:

Do you need a jointer? *A lot of guys do without. And many who have them,
don't use them that much. *Much of a jointers job can be done on a table saw
or with a router.

After doing without for several years I bought a Grizzly 8 inch. It is
the least-used tool in the shop. All I use it for is prep. All it does
is give me a set of boards flat on one side with a dependable right
angle on one edge.

I consider it perhaps not the very best tool investment I ever made,
but certainly in the top ten. Just because it turns the prep work into
an afternoon instead of a day or two, and just because it's so nice
when everything's milled right.

I got along without it for a long time, and it sits idle for long
periods but every time I use it I feel like I got my money's worth.
I've spent more money to get less satisfaction on quite a few other
purchases.

That said, I waited till I had the money and I knew of several places
where I could get rough cut air dried lumber. Being able to mill any
old board I brought into the shop was worth quite a bit to me. Your
mileage might vary, but I wouldn't get rid of mine unless I was
replacing it with a bigger and better one. :-)